Loose-leaf ledger.



Patented oct. 2s, i902.

f H. P. GURMAN. LOOSE LEAVF LEDGER. (Application med Mar. 11, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE PFOUTS GORM'AN, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOOSE-LEAF LEDGER.

SPECIFICATION forming' part Of Letters Patent N0. 712,297, dated October l28, 1902. Application iilecl March ll, 1902. Serial No. 97,721;V (No model.)

inexpensive one inrwhich the loose. sheets` will not require perforations and which Will be adapted to arrange such loose sheets compactly, so that a ledger having a given number of loose sheets will not be materially larger than a bound ledger containing the saine number of pages.

A further object of the invention is to provVide a loose-leaf ledger of this character which may be readily opened and closed With the same facility as an ordinary ledger.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangment of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a' perspective View of a loose-leaf ledger constructed in accordance with this invention and shown closed.. Fig. 2 is asimilar View, the ledger being open and the leaves being removed to illustrate the construction more clearly. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing `the back of the ledger. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the manner of hinging the covers together.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l and 2 designate the front and back covers of a loose-leaf ledger, which covers may consist of boards or any other suitable material and which may be ornamented in any desired manner. The rear cover or back of the loose-leaf ledger is Vprovided at the rear edge with bearings 3, consisting of large rings of stout wire or other suitable material, and receiving-disks it, which are secured to the front cover 1 by flanged pieces 5 or any other suitable means. These anged pieces, which are approximately L-shaped in cross-section, have theirflanges perforated for the reception of Lfastening devices for securing them to 'the front cover and to the'disks. The connecting devices 5 are arranged between thebearing-rings and are adapted to prevent the covers fromv moving longitudinally on each other, and they assist in retaining the bearingdisks in the bearing-rings. The bearing-disks and the bearing-rings hinge the covers together and offset the same from each other to provide the necessary space for the loose leaves 6 and the index-leaves 7. The disks are also supportedby'a rod 8, extending longitudinally ofthe ledger and secured to the disks at the centers thereof by suitable fasten- 'f lers, asclearly shownfin Fig.= 2, and adapted to engage corresponding sockets 13 and 14 of the said covers. The front cover is also provided with rods or arms 15, which are received within grooves 16 of supports 17, arranged at the front edge of the back cover and extending across the front of the book at the ends thereof and consisting preferably of strips of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form the groove. The strips of sheet metal are also preferably split at one end to provide flanges 18, .which are perforated for the reception of suitable fastening devices for mounting the supports or keepers 17 on the rear cover.

The front cover is provided at its rear edge with intermediate rings 19, preferably constructed of stout spring-wire or other suitable material, secured at one end to the rear edge of the front cover and having its other end arranged close to the cover and adapted to be sprung open to enable the index-leaves 7 to be hooked on the rings. The intermediate rings, Which are arranged between the bearingrings, are approximately the same diameter as the said bearing-rings; The index-leaves, which may be of any desired number, are provided with perforations 2O to receive the rings, and their front portions areapertured in the usual manner to expose the front portions of the leaves beneath them and are provided with the letters of the alphabet for indicating the naines on the loose leaves. The loose leaves, which may be of any desired number, are placed between the indexleaves and are not perforated, being held in position when the book is closed by the intermediate end rods or arms l1 and 12, the front supports or keepers 17, and the rear rings 19. The rear rings pass through eyes 21 of the rear cover, and they, together with the grooved keepers or supports 17, assist in holding the covers against longitudinal movement on each other.

The rings 19 are carried by the front cover, and the ledger is opened similar to an ordinary ledger, the said rings passing freely through the perforations of the index-leaves remaining on the rear cover, and the other leaves being held by the operator against the front cover and being supported by the rings on which they are mounted. The leaves remaining on the back have their openings alined in a vertical or approximately vertical position, and they do not interfere with the movement of the rings 19; but the leaves which are carried with the front cover are arranged at an inclination or angle, so that they will not slip on the rings.

The openings 13 of the front cover extend entirely through the same, and the rods or arms 12 project beyond the outer face ofthe front cover when the book is closed and are provided with notches or recesses 22, which are engaged by pivoted plates 23, mounted on the exterior of the front cover and adapted to lock the book in its closed position. The pivotedy lockingplates are preferably provided with outwardly-extending flanges forming grips or handles for enabling them to be readily operated.

It will be seen that the loose-leaf ledger is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is strong and durable, and that the parts are compactly arranged and are adapted to accommodate a maximum number of leaves, and that when filled it is not materially larger than au ordinary bound ledger having the same number of leaves. It will also be clear that the ledger is adapted to be handled with the same facility as an ordinary ledger or book and that the loose leaves do not have to be perforated.

What I claim is- 1. A device of the class described comprising two covers, bearing-rings carried by one of the covers, bearing-disks mounted on the other cover and arranged within the rings, whereby the covers are hinged together, and means carried by the covers for retaining leaves between them, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising two covers one of the covers being provided with bearing-rings and the other having disks arranged within the bearing-rings,

and rings movable with one of the covers and adapted to receive index-leaves,substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising two covers, bearing-rings carried by one of the covers, bearing-disks mounted on the *other cover and arranged within the rings, in-

termediate rings of approximately the same .diameter as the bearing-rings and arranged vbetween the same and secured to one of the covers, index-leaves having perforations receiving the intermediate rings, and loose leaves arranged between the index-leaves, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described compris- `ing two covers, bearing-rings carried by one `of the covers, bearing-disks mounted on the other cover and arranged within the said rings, intermediate rings of approximately `:the same diameter as the bearing-rings and located between the saine and securedto one of the covers, eyes mounted on the other cover `and receiving the intermediate rings, indexleaves having perforations receiving the injtermediate rings, and loose leaves arranged between the index-leaves, substantially as gdescribed.

' 5. A device of the class described comprisging two covers hinged together at the back, index-leaves arranged between the coversand lconnected with the same at` the back and ladapted to receive loose leaves, rods mounted on one of the covers and located beyond the {leaves and extending through the other cover, and independent locking devices mounted fon gthe exterior of the latter and engaging the rods and locking the covers in their closed Iposition, substantially as described.

j 6. A device of the class described comprising two covers hinged together, grooved supports arranged at the front of one of the covers, rods mounted on the other cover andarranged to it in the grooves of the supports when the covers are closed, and means for securing the-covers in their closed position, l.substantially as described.

` 7. A device of the class described comprising two covers, bearing-rings mounted on one cover, bearing-disks connected with the other Icover and arranged within the bearing-rings, a rod connecting the disks, rings mounted on one cover and guided on the other and adapted to receive index-leaves, rods or arms carried by the covers and arranged at the edges thereof, and means for securing the covers when closed, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HORACE PFOUTS GORMAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. SEIDEL, FRANK GoRMAN.

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